Three more names are now official for the 33rd Best of the Super Juniors tournament.
NJPW confirmed on Saturday that House of Torture members SHO and Yoshinobu Kanemaru will be part of this year’s field, alongside DDT’s Daisuke Sasaki. The tournament is set to kick off on May 14 and will run through June 7.
SHO enters the competition looking to improve on recent outings, having gone 4 wins and 5 losses across his last three BOSJ appearances. Kanemaru returns for his ninth run in the tournament, still chasing his first victory in the prestigious junior heavyweight showcase.
For Sasaki, this marks a notable return to NJPW. It will be his first appearance with the promotion in 14 years, dating back to 2012 when he competed in both the inaugural NEVER Openweight Championship tournament and Best of the Super Juniors 19. Since then, he has built an impressive résumé in DDT, becoming a six-time KO-D Champion and a three-time DDT Universal Champion.
Airica Demia has officially secured her WWE ID contract.
The 21-year-old independent wrestler was presented with the deal during a Palmetto Championship Wrestling event in South Carolina, marking a major step forward in her young career.
Demia recently participated in a WWE tryout at the Performance Center in Orlando and comes from a wrestling background as a second-generation talent. Since making her debut in 2023, she has steadily built experience across the indie scene.
Earlier this year, she challenged Laynie Luck for the WWE ID Women’s Championship in January. She later competed in a six-way bout for the vacant title at Wrestling Open RI in November 2025.
Her most recent match came on March 6 at SHW 80 in Canton, Georgia, where she came up short against Hyena Hera.
Demia’s signing had been previously reported, and now it is official. She joins a growing list of WWE ID talents, several of whom have already made appearances on Evolve.
BREAKING….@Airica_Demia was just given a WWE ID contract at @PCWofSC in Camden, South Caroliina!
Bully remembers Vince playing off the incident as though nothing had happened, but in turns out there are indeed consequences when you drop the boss.
“Disaster! Vince crashes and burns, he tries to tell us that he’s totally fine, there’s not gonna be any heat from it – all is good,” Bully said, before ominously recalling how both he and D-Von were put in a dumpster the following “SmackDown.”
“They put us in a dumpster and dropped us 15 feet off the stage,” he said. “And D-Von did not tell me – my wife never told me after 20 years of marriage that she was claustrophobic. D-Von had an anxiety attack when he went into that dumpster.”
Bully recalled having to hold D-Von’s hand while they were in the dumpster and trying to make him imagine it was a rollercoaster ride.
“When that dumpster hits, you see the cover of the dumpster pop off, and D-Von come flying out, gasping for air!” he added. “The disaster was dropping Vince. The disaster was putting D-Von in a dumpster when he was claustrophobic, and that was our receipt.”
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “Busted Open: Master’s Class” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Bill Eadie and Barry Darsow of Demolition have shared strong opinions on the current use of gimmick matches in professional wrestling, arguing that they no longer carry the same meaning they once did.
Speaking on the Demo Pod podcast, both veterans explained that gimmick matches were once reserved as the final chapter in long-running feuds. According to Eadie, these matches were built over extended periods, often lasting more than a year, before reaching a decisive conclusion.
“Sometimes that buildup was a year, a year and a half, and it culminated with, now we’re going to get a winner. Now it’s finally going to be settled,” Eadie said. “I think it meant more then than it does now, because sometimes they just throw people into this gimmick match where there was no buildup for it.”
Darsow agreed and pointed to steel cage matches as an example of how things have changed over time. He noted that such matches were once rare, which made them feel important.
“The blowoff was a cage match or whatever. And then they wouldn’t have a cage match again until somebody else had another blowout,” Darsow said. “You might have one every other year. Now it’s like, ‘Hey, let’s just throw a cage match in there. Let’s have a ladder match.’”
Eadie also raised concerns about the physical toll of modern matches, suggesting that the focus has shifted away from traditional wrestling.
“A lot of the stuff is like gymnastics. It’s not wrestling. And they’re taking so many bumps, the propensity of potential injury greatly accelerates,” Eadie said. “We used to wrestle for the idea we’re going to be in this business for a long period of time. They have wrestlers now that have to outdo the match before, or the two matches, or the three matches before.”
Darsow echoed those concerns, warning about long-term health risks.
“These guys are unbelievable, the stuff they’re doing, but they’re crippling themselves up. Some of them are getting hurt so bad they can’t hardly work anymore,” Darsow said. “Every guy has to beat what the next guy does.”
He also referenced the famous Hell in a Cell moment involving Mick Foley and The Undertaker, recalling how dangerous it felt to watch.
“I just was like, oh my God, please be okay. One wrong move and you’re done. Thank God he walked away from it, but not very well,” Darsow said.
Eadie added that modern performers like Shane McMahon and Logan Paul highlight how far the risk level has increased.
“There’s only so many bumps in your body,” Eadie said.
Both men made it clear they would not have agreed to certain match types in today’s environment.
“If somebody proposed a scaffold match to me, I would certainly not do it. I have a hard time going off the high dive knowing that there’s water underneath,” Eadie said.
Their comments reflect a broader concern among veterans about how wrestling has evolved, especially regarding safety, storytelling, and the long-term health of performers.
Demolition Criticize Modern Gimmick Matches in Wrestling
Jim Ross has shared his thoughts on why Sid Eudy was not inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame sooner, pointing to backstage politics as a major factor.
Speaking on the Grilling JR podcast, Ross was asked why Sid—known to fans as Sid Vicious—had to wait so long for recognition despite a career that included multiple world title reigns and WrestleMania main events. Ross admitted there is no clear explanation.
“That is a question that you can ask over and over and not get a good answer,” Ross said. “Politics, part of it. Politics, I think, has a lot to do with this selection of the individuals that go into the Hall of Fame. It just came around, finding his time.”
Sid’s career credentials are well established. He was a two-time WWE Champion and a two-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion. He also headlined major events, including WrestleMania 13 against The Undertaker and WrestleMania 8 against Hulk Hogan, solidifying his place among top stars of his era.
Ross made it clear that he believes Sid’s Hall of Fame induction is fully deserved, but he also expressed disappointment that the moment comes after Sid’s passing.
“It’s a damn shame that he’s no longer with us to enjoy those moments, because he would have enjoyed it,” Ross said. “I know going to the Hall of Fame, and you know, Sid matured and grew a lot over the course of time. He certainly is a Hall of Famer. No doubt about that.”
Sid Eudy passed away in August 2024 at the age of 63 following a battle with cancer. His death marked the loss of one of wrestling’s most recognizable figures from the 1990s.
The Hall of Fame news was confirmed by his son, Gunner Eudy, who shared the announcement on social media while expressing pride in his father’s legacy and what it represents for their family.
While the timing of the induction carries a sense of sadness, it also serves as long-overdue recognition for a performer whose impact on the industry remains significant.
